FOCUS - Opportunities For Otsego 2016

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50 years of Making a Difference Opportunities for Otsego marks legacy of service

DENISE RICHARDSON | The Daily Star

Beth Feldman of Oneonta paints the wall on West Street on Wednesday, April 27, for her employer, Opportunities for Otsego, which was advertising ongoing enrollment for Head Start and Early Head Start programs for children.

Editor’s note: The following was provided by Opportunities for Otsego. Opportunities for Otsego is celebrating 50 years of making a difference this July. Born out of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 to fight America’s War on Poverty, Opportunities for Otsego is one of over 1,000 Community Action Agencies across the United States that help people achieve self-sufficiency. Community Action Agencies serve 96 percent of the nation’s counties; Opportunities for Otsego serves all 1,016 square miles of Otsego County. Through extensive partnerships and a comprehensive network of services, Opportunities for Otsego assists more than 8,000 people annually. The agency operates some of the earliest programs created in conjunction with the Economic Opportunity Act, such as Head Start and Weatherization, and has added programs throughout the years to address identified community needs. Opportunities for Otsego is based in Oneonta but, offers services throughout all of Otsego County through a dozen satellite offices and homebased programs. Agency services are sustained by a variety of federal, state and local resources and the generosity of the community. Despite fiscal uncertainty brought by fluctuations in funding over the past 50 years, Opportunities for Otsego has been able to maintain core services. The impact of flat and reduced funding has been minimized in part to the innovative thinking of staff and board members, and the actions of the community to devise solutions. In 2009, Opportunities for Otsego was in the unique position to receive timelimited funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The See OPPORTUNITIES, Page 2

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Bryce Frederick, president Sita Fey, vice president Dr. Benjamin Friedell, secretary David Merzig, treasurer

BOARD:

George Brown Dan Buttermann Alan Donovan Craig Gelbsman Janice Hinkley Melinda Murdock Jennifer O’Donnell Tim Parsons Carol Sprague Susan Turell Ana Vendemmia Randall Wilson Lorrie Wolverton

Opportunities for Otsego Board of Director meetings are open to the public. Meetings are held at the main office on 3 West Broadway in Oneonta, the third Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. Meetings in July and August are to be determined.


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